What you need to know
Fernando Valenzuela’s funeral mass was held Wednesday at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in downtown Los Angeles. The funeral mass was open to the public, but seating was limited. The memorial service will be a memorable day for the Dodgers and their fans, coming just days after what would have been the pitcher’s 64th birthday.
The beloved Dodgers legend who became a national phenomenon and touched the hearts of generations of fans was remembered Wednesday at a memorial service in downtown Los Angeles.
A memorial service for Fernando Valenzuela, who passed away in October at the age of 63, was held at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels.
Former Dodgers catcher Mike Scioscia also paid tribute to his former teammate, saying Valenzuela always gave his best effort.
“Everyone knows he was an unparalleled talent, a great pitcher and had the heart of a lion,” Scioscia said. “You couldn’t take him out of the game. And every time he took the mound, he took it on for his faith, his family, his team and his country. And when he took the mound for the first time, Until last time, he was in Major League Baseball.
“I can’t tell you how lucky we are to have had the opportunity to watch him grow and do things that no pitcher this young has ever done before, at age 20.” Fernando was always humble and very humble about his victories. I think his compassion for defeat, and the way he lived through it, was a true inspiration to us. And his leadership qualities really showed. ”
The commemoration comes days after what would have been the pitcher’s 64th birthday, when Dodgers fans and the team would celebrate the 2024 World Series championship with a parade in downtown Los Angeles and an event at Dodger Stadium. It was the same day.
Fans lined the route of the World Series victory parade to cheer on the Dodgers, including Freddie Freeman, Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts, but Valenzuela was among an estimated 200,000 people who gathered in downtown Los Angeles. . Fans participating in the parade held signs and wore jerseys with the number 34 on their backs in honor of the man who sparked a long-running “Fernandomania” craze across the United States during his rookie season.
Inside Dodger Stadium, fans gathered for a noon celebration and chanted “Happy Birthday.” That night, Los Angeles City Hall was lit up in blue to represent the Dodgers and red, white and green to celebrate the Mexican-born Valenzuela on what is now Fernando Valenzuela Day in Los Angeles.
At Vin Scully Drive, the entrance to Dodger Stadium, fans have been placing flowers, candles and photos at the memorial in front of the sign at the entrance to the grounds since news of Valenzuela’s death.
Today is your birthday and I’m thinking of you, Fernando. 💙 pic.twitter.com/m3b32hqhRS
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) November 1, 2024
Valenzuela is one of the Dodgers’ all-time franchise leaders in several categories, ranking fourth in complete games (107), fifth in strikeouts (1,759) and sixth in wins (141). He is the only player in major league history to win the Rookie of the Year and Cy Young awards in the same season, doing so in the 1981 World Series with the Dodgers.
Valenzuela’s 17-year Major League career ended in 1997 after stints in Anaheim, Baltimore, Philadelphia, San Diego and St. Louis. He retired as the all-time leader in wins (173) and strikeouts (2,074) among Mexican-born major leaguers.
Credit: Kiyo Mio-Imagn Image A fan holds up a statue of the late Fernando Valenzuela before the start of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 2024 World Series championship parade in downtown Los Angeles.
But his influence isn’t just measured by statistics. He won the first eight games of the 1981 season and was shutout in five games. This success sparked a “Fernandomania” boom that continued into the postseason when Valenzuela and the Dodgers defeated the Yankees in the World Series. Valenzuela was also on the Dodger team that won the World Series in 1988 by defeating the Oakland A’s.
A native of Navajoa, Mexico, he is a member of the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame and the Caribbean Baseball Hall of Fame. His jersey number, 34, was also retired by the Mexican Baseball League.
Photo: Looking back on Fernando Valenzuela’s Dodgers career
Last year, the city of Los Angeles issued a proclamation declaring August 11th “Fernando Valenzuela Day.” His jersey number, 34, which appeared in the All-Star team six times, was permanently retired from the team that year.
After leaving the Dodgers after the 1990 season, the high-leg-kicking left-hander pitched for the California Angels, Baltimore Orioles, Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres, and St. Louis Cardinals.
Valenzuela’s cause of death has not been disclosed.
